Good Evening Ladies and Gentlemen. May I take this opportunity to congratulate all of you, not just those who have received awards this evening, but each and every single one of you. Your bravery and determination is commendable. You took the first step, tutors and teachers may have opened the door for you, but it was your decision to enter.
Like you, I am currently an adult learner, I’m learning to drive! After having my provisional license for nearly 20 years, I’ve finally got behind the wheel, turned the key and started my journey. It’s terrifying, there’s so much to learn but I’ve not crashed the car or injured anyone yet so that’s a bonus!
Learning something new can be frightening, suddenly, your whole world revolves around it and you aim to be as enthusiastic and the best that you can be. I’m dyslexic so learning something new is always a scary prospect for me. I have to read and re-read everything to make sure I understand it correctly. Anything I write gets proof-read by my husband to ensure that it makes sense and that there are no spelling mistakes. Sometimes, a word will look correct to me when it’s not, but I’m learning, everyday!
Education empowers people, whether it’s learning a new language, learning to read, learning maths, learning to drive or simply learning how to ride a bike or decorate a cake. Education gives us confidence, it gives us the tools to progress in life. We don’t have to be heroes and try to learn everything overnight. Take it a step at time, enjoy it, relish it and respect it.
We all have the right to education. Adult education is just the same as a school educating children, where we develop our skills and broaden our knowledge. Education helps us to contribute more fully and effectively in society. But life itself is an education; we learn something new every day, just this week I learned that my two teenagers appear to be allergic to doing the dishes!!
Face down your challenges, embrace and welcome them! Education gives us the skills to steer ourselves towards any direction we choose, to experiment and explore and to dive headlong into the world. Your mind is a tool and you can choose to use it any way you want. You are the masters of your own minds, the captains of your own ships.
Louise Hay says – “Your thoughts and beliefs of the past have created this moment, and all the moments up to this moment. What you are now choosing to believe and think and say will create the next moment and the next day and the next month and the next year."
Thank you
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